And behold (see 1.20; 8.2) is the means by which Matthew “makes a special point of the sword episode,” as one scholar observes.

One of those who were with Jesus appears in Mark as “one of those who stood by” (14.47). Matthew certainly intends that this person be understood as “One of Jesus’ friends” (Barclay), or even more specifically as “one of Jesus’ disciples” (Phillips) or “one of the followers of Jesus” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The text states that he stretched out his hand and drew his sword. This can be rendered as “reached out and drew his sword” or, more naturally in many languages as a single action, “drew his sword” (so Good News Translation) or “pulled out his sword.”

Sword can be translated as “long knife for war” or “weapon like a big knife (or, machete).”

Struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear may erroneously suggest two separate actions: (1) striking the slave of the High Priest and (2) cutting off his ear. In the Greek text struck is actually a participle dependent upon the main verb cut off, indicating a single action: striking at the slave (perhaps in an attempt to kill him), but managing only to slice off his ear. Therefore Good News Translation has “struck at the High Priest’s slave, cutting off his ear” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible, and Phillips are similar).

Matthew does not say which ear, but for languages which normally specify which one, it is possible to say either “one of his ears” or, since Luke does supply the information, “his right ear.”

The text says the slave, which can be understood to mean the High Priest had only one slave, although the more likely meaning is that only one of his slaves was there. “One of the slaves” will correct this problem.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .